Each week I’ll throw in my thoughts on the field and those to back and avoid in this wonderful format.

This Year:

Event

Golfer

Place

$$

Safeway Open

Brendan Steele

T53

14,610

CIMB Classic

Ryan Moore

T66

12,740

CJ CUP @ 9 BRIDGES

Gary Woodland

2nd

1,026,000

WGC-HSBC Champions

Ian Poulter

21st

93,500

Sanderson Farms

Cameron Davis

MC

0

Shriners

Aaron Wise

T15

101,675

Mayakoba Golf Classic

Charles Howell III

MC

0

The RSM Classic

J.J. Spaun

MC

0

Sentry TOC

Jon Rahm

T8

191,000

Sony Open

CareerBuilder Challenge

Farmers Insurance

WMPO

-AT&T Pebble Beach

Genesis Open

Honda Classic

WGC-Mexico

Valspar Championship

Arnold Palmer

WGC-Match Play

Corales Puntacana

Houston Open

Masters

RBC Heritage

Valero Texas Open

Zurich Classic

Wells Fargo Championship

THE PLAYERS

Ft. Worth Invitational

AT&T Byron Nelson

Memorial

FESJC

US Open

FESJC

Quicken Loans National

A Military Tribute

John Deere Classic

British Open

RBC Canadian Open

Barracuda

WGC-Bridgestone Invite

PGA Championship

Wyndham

THE NORTHERN TRUST

Dell Technologies

BMW Championship

TOUR Championship

Total Events: 9

Top 10s: 2

MC: 3

$1,439,525

2017-18:

I hit the winner’s circle three times and the two late victories pushed me into the top 10 of Spotter’s game.

All four majors’ selections hit the top 10.

Seven MC were dire but the most punishing one was Francesco Molinari at THE PLAYERS. We know what happened to his season after that.

Last Time: Sentry TOC

A top-10 check in a limited field is solid but unspectacular. Rahm was steady but never had a foot in the door. I’ll give him credit for 69-69 on the weekend to get into the top 10 and stay there.

Gary Woodland supporters must be sick but anyone on Xander Schauffele is not allowed to complain about anything the rest of the season. Signing for 11-under par, tying the course record AND WINNING kills all bitching privileges, sorry.

My Choice: Jon Rahm – T8

The Spaniard has no natural landing spot in this format so I’m banging this drum off his win at the Hero.

A field of 144 is 111 more than we had to choose from last week but the parameters should be similar.

The last five winners and 13 of the last 20 have all played the week before at Kapalua. Russell Henley is the only rookie to win and he and Bruce Leitzke are the only two players to win in their first try.

Experience can come with big finishes and age so choose wisely. This week there is also a cut. The highest mark the last two years is 138 (-2) so par is off this week!

My Choice: Marc Leishman

All systems go for the Aussie. He’s in Honolulu for the 10th time and has never left early. Time to take it to the next level!